Last February 28, 2016, our parish housing project for Yolanda victims in Brgy. San Antonio, Basey, Samar was finally turned-over. There were 48 beneficiaries with their respective families who happily accepted their pre-assigned house in the presence of Most Rev. Isabelo C. Abarquez, DD, the Bishop of Calbayog Diocese. The good bishop also presided the Eucharistic Celebration and the blessing of the San Damiano Chapel and Multi-Purpose Center. Mr. Edmund Lim, PPC President; Christina Teehankee, PPC Vice Pres.; Girlie Sison, Worship Ministry Coordinator and Jaime Blanco, former PPC Pres., have witnessed the occasion as well. They braved through and successfully crossed the muddy and slippery terrain to the housing site.
Four days before the turnover and blessing, 20 Franciscan friars (4 priests, 16 brothers), 9 SYA members and 1 parish social worker participated the Franciscan Solidarity Camp II to help the final preparations despite the erratic weather. Indeed, a joyful service and ministry find its reason and inspiration from working as a team and through communal spirit of giving and sharing – it is not what a person possesses in this life that definesJesus’ disciples. Rather, it is what a person can truly give up and authentically share with the people in dire need that blesses disciple’s life. Truly, having material and financial resources is not a guarantee to being generous but compassion and mercy does.
In behalf of the Pastoral Team, the Parish Pastoral Council and most especially the 48 families-beneficiaries, kindly allow me to express my heartfelt and profound gratitude to all those whoextended their compassion and care for the Yolanda victims – your solidarity and generosity give them reason to believe in God’s manifold abiding presence, to continue discovering life’s meaning in the face of tragedy and to begin again to build their family’s dream through their new found home.
Our parish community was able to received donation amounting toP 8,334,352.27 from various sources. This amount enabled us to buy almost 1 hectare land for the location site of San Antonio Franciscan Eco-Village (P 1,200.000.00); 48 shell housing built on concrete andsteel materials with classique corrugated roofing (P 5,630,740.42);San Damiano Chapel and Multi-Purpose Center (P 1,336,3777.85); and Equipment for Income Generating Project – CHB Production (P134,034.00).
FOR ALL THOSE WHO DARE TO BE GENEROUS
(Time, Treasure and Talent),
YOUR KIND ACTION MAKES GOD’S COMFORTING PRESENCE TRULY ALIVE
IN THE MIDST OF DESTRUCTION AND DEATH.
MAY YOUR SIMPLE ACT OF COMPASSION AND MERCY
BRINGS YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES PERSEVERANCE, PROSPERITY, AND PEACE.
Fraternally,
Fr. Reu Jose C. Galoy, OFM
Santuario de San Antonio Parish 